The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-04
SOME SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.
life Among the Natives of New Meek
lenburg and New Pomerania.

FROM me san f1dNCtScD Chronicle.
A gentleman who has spent a number of
fears in the South seas as agent for a Ger
nan mercantile house, recently narrated
he following account of his residence in the
Kew Britain group to Il Chronicle reporter
rlie group composed of New Britain and
Few ireland was discovered by Dutch navi-
tators i'll 1916. Although several of the
british exploring ships visited the islands.
t was not until 1872 that the English war
hip Blanche discovered very fine harbor
nd named it Blanche bay.
''In 1885, said the Chronicles informant.
there were two communications on the
sland of Matupi, in Blanche bay, the head
ua1ters of our trading firm, and the mis-
konaries, who live at q station ON Duke of
York Island, situated on the channel be-
tween New Britain and New Ireland Our
krnl have few traders at villages around
he islands The German government took
possession of these islands in 1885, and they
Ire now called New Mecklenburg and New
pomerania. Upon New Britain there are
Two extinct volcanoes and one partially
ctive. Within u mile of this burning
Mountain is a river of boiling water, with
ltrong sulphurous taste"
SIS it very hot upon the islands,"
"Well, on the coast, where the sea breeze
( felt. there is not much to complain of.
Trade winds blow all day for seven or eight
months of the year, but the night land
breeze is very noXious, as sweeping over the
Inland swamps it becomes laden with mala-
ria. Matupi. our head station, is very
healthy and fever is unknown. Tropical
vegetation is very luxuriant and varied
Gigantic trees are covered with ferns, Or
rhi1s, huge moses and parasitic growths of
all descriptions. The mass of vegetation is
10 dank and matted that it requires ak
work to cut roadway through the Jungle.
Birds of gorgeous hue fit about amid the
lowers and leaves, scarcely distinguishable
% an Impractical eye, while insects and
butterflies vie in size and coloring with the
cumming bird.
"Our trade consists in purchasing copra,
iried cocoanut, hawksbill turtle SHE'LL 6ech
he mel, and few shark fins. We give in
exchange tobacco principally. but prints and
cotton goods powder and knives are also
articles of barter. The natives are good
agriculturists In every little fssure OF the
rocks and on hillsides are patches of sugar
zane and beds of vans and sweet potatoes.
Taro is also growing, and the plant requires
considerable irrigation, supplied by means
Of artificial channels and dams, whereby the
mountain streams are conducted to the
fields"
"How many inhabitants are therer'
stIyel, roughly speaking, | should state
about $4,000 souls. Since the German war
ships visited us a number of villages on the
west side of New Britain have been discov-
FRED Cocoanut trees are very abundant,
and wherever dense groves were seen from
the vessels decks smoke was visible rising
from them indicating the presence of
natives About the island of New Britain
Or New Meckenburg we know a great deal:
Of New Ireland or New Pomerania a little,
but New Hanover, which lies a little to the
North of the group, is almost terra incOg
hitd. The natives there are very hostile,
md hax whit "a
men. So far as have seen from a schooner's
deck, the land on New Hanover is rich
oil-wide-spreading plains covered with
sugar cane and cocoanut trees. The noun
tains seem to be in the interior as the slopes
gradually come toward the coast, and dense
masses of vapor cluster over the tops, espe-
eially in the rainy season. These islands are
lovely spots, and, being out Of the beaten
track, the natives still retain their ancient
customs and practice various rites and GER
monies of olden times
'The native, as O rule, does not like to be
questioned He credits a white man with
possessing universal knowledge, and when
asked about an observance or ceremony
usually returns evasive replies. In New
Britain there are customs that to talk about
is tabooed, and some words are not per-
mitted to be spoken. My acquaintance with
these people and observations are, therefore,
the only guides to go by. The parents be-
trOth their children at early ages. The boy
has to work and pay for his wife in copra,
cocoanuts or trading goods. When the
stipulated amount is liquidated the husband
builds small house in the brush at some
distance from his village He then per-
suades his fiance to elope with him, but with
the knowledge of her parents. The discov-
cry of the abduction is then made the girls
father is indignant and the bridegroom's
father comes to offer sympathy and vows
vengeance against his son for dysgracing
him. Then all the relatives on either side
are called in and feast takes place The
meal being ended, the men arm themselves
and put on their war paint, starting out as
IL In search of foe. They know exactly
where the house is, and of course find it
empty. AS the expedition would be shOrn
OF It's lmpresslveneSS if some display were
not made, the house is burned and the party
returns to the village, where another feast
Is held. Next morning the young couple are
TO be found in the village. and the balance
OF the purchase being paid, married life is
entered into without further Inconvenience.
Inc custom prevails that man pays off
deceased brothers obligation in the matter
Oh making good any contract for payments
entered into for girl. She becomes, after
liquidation of the contract, a part of his
household. When the father dies the chill
dren are taken to the mothers village for
support, but the widow is never allowed to
marry again. In these islands a curious
custom prevails which might be copied by
civilized nations to advantage. A man
must not speak to his mother-in-law. Not
only is speech forbidden to this relative, but
she must be avoided. If by chance the lady
Is met, the son-in-law must hide himself or
cover his face. Suicide of both parties is
The outcome if the rule is broken. One of
tne English missionaries tried to get at the
natives idea of an oath, and he found that
the most solemn asseverauion among them
was, III am not telling the truth / hope |
may touch the hand of my mother-in-law'
Numerous idols carved out of q white,
chalk-liile stone are found in the group, but
the natives say they are very old, and seem
20 be in dread if a white man touches or
LOOKS at one. They are very rude concep
ions: and are generally found in the vicin-
lty of graves.
Although cannibalism is reported by
missionaries to have died out among the
Islands in the South Seas it is far more
common than generally imagined. In New
ireland saw big fight between two vii
tta3ges, and after the battle the bodies of
those who had fallen were eaten. The bodies
hlter being scalded in hot water are scraped
with a bamboo knife by old women. An
pld man cuts up the bodies, taking care to
Keep the thigh and SHIN bones, which are
used for spear heads. After being wrapped
N stout leaves the disnernbered cadaYers
nlp0nl in, Il, a.,I